Little One Baby magazine

Oh dear. I've not been here in this space much lately and now when I do post it's a blatant brag!

Saskia's room was featured in the latest issue of Little One Baby magazine. Photos were taken earlier this year by the super sweet Masha of Masha Zaric photography - and words were threaded by that talented creative spirit, Jodi.

It was hard to tell who was most proud about the article, and I think it's a tough call between Vovo (K's mum, who almost shed tears and kept repeating over and over again in Portuguese, oh what a beautiful family) and Grandfather (who managed to hunt down a copy of the magazine hours after it hit the stands). Despite a slighly goofy family portrait (!) I know it will make a treasured keepsake. Thank you Masha and Jodi and Little One Baby.

If you pick up a copy of the magazine, there is also a feature on Otis and Casper's room from How We Montessori. I adore their simple and thoughtfully considered spaces. Just a little in awe of Kylie...

*Photos by Masha Zaric photography for Little One Baby

Peepo

It makes my heart so happy that the Little One just l-o-v-e-s books. When she wakes from her nap I hear her calling out. I find her standing up in her cot, leaning on the rails and facing the books. As soon as the door opens her little arm shoots up and she points at the shelves. Look, look*.

...

We transitioned Saskia to the cot for day naps (and for the first sleep of the night) a few weeks ago. It had become a little risky to have her napping in our bed during the day and for various (logistical) reasons we weren't able to alter our bedding in line with bed-sharing suggestions. I still feed to sleep so the transition was fairly smooth.

She now sleeps once a day and will often wake after 45 minutes (eek). Most of the time I will lay her against my chest and rock her on the rocking chair and she'll drift off again and have another 45 minutes back in the cot. I realise this isn't forever so I treasure this time. It's a lovely way for me to slow down and be quiet. I'm not picking up toys, or preparing lunch, or tapping on the keyboard. Just closing my eyes, rocking, patting, and breathing in that precious baby (almost a toddler) scent.

Moving to a cot is made a little easier when you are sleeping on dreamy muslin sheets I suppose.

*I'd love to do a few posts of some special books we've been reading lately. I've built up a lovely little collection over the years. This book is of course, the classic Peepo by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. According to my Mum every baby should own a copy. In fact, you can't go past any of their books.

The Little One's nursery

Saskia's room was ready for her arrival.

Being a first time Mama I think I fell into that (easy) trap of wanting everything 'just so', sheets washed, prints sourced, garlands hung. For the first six months, however, we just used her room to change her. Perhaps not necessary then up have everything 'just so'. But I do love that we had time to think about what kind of space we wanted to create for a Little One, and I'm glad we could slowly potter about setting it up, gradually adding bits and pieces. (Would we have the time and energy now?)

The space is always changing though. We modify it as she grows. Now I use it for a 'change of scenery' during our days at home, I might pop her in the cot with some toys as I fold her clothes and tuck them into paper-lined drawers (see, would I have time/be bothered with that now?), or we might read books together in the rocking chair. I watch her and see that she now takes notice of the Swedish giraffes, looks in the direction of the mobile when I ask her, where are the hoot hoots?, and together we read the little message under the mirror every night before switching off the lamp.

One day she will sleep in her room, but for the moment, her bed is ours. She sleeps with us. And we all like it that way for now.

*The lovely Bron is going to post an interview today where I waffle on a little more about the space, if you're interested. And she was also kind enough to ask for my thoughts on being a mama.

40 weeks

It was my Granny's birthday yesterday so Mum and I went to put some flowers on her grave. Bluebells and lilacs. I haven't been to her grave as a pregnant lady so I imagined her seeing me in all my 40 week glory. I think she would have been pretty thrilled.

This last week I have just felt a bit slow. Not as many adventures out of the house - apart from a stroll around the village or down to the coffee shop. Days are spent doing some gardening (on all fours, pulling out the moves for the little one to wriggle down), progressing the quilt, catching up with old friends on the phone, and watching The Wire (awesome, no?) at nights with K and a bowl of ice cream. It's rather lovely, this being on maternity leave business.

Blissed out on a pre natal massage yesterday, and although it's probably stretching the budget to do so it's been such a lovely indulgence. I've had one every fortnight since about 34 weeks and I'm booked in for an induction massage next Wednesday if the little one is still wriggling about in there.

I'm still feeling Braxton Hicks contractions every day, and perhaps they've stepped up in frequency, but it still feels like there's a few days to go at least...

39 weeks

Little one still in belly.

I'm not fed up yet. In fact, I'm still very happy just pottering about, enjoying the kicks (mostly) and carrying this precious load. I think K is finding these last few weeks hard though - and is getting mighty impatient to meet our little one. We've met some teeny newborns over the past few weeks and I can see that he is aching to hold his own baby. I guess it must be hard for him, not feeling the little one's movements so intimately, to feel that same connection - and that's where the eagerness for this baby to be born comes from. But not long now....

We're still hanging things in the nursery and adding little treasures - but I'll post some peeks soon, Little Sister (and others who have been asking). K and I will go in most nights and just look around, flicking through the books on the shelves, smoothing down blankets or holding up the outfits and carrying on about little arms and feet that will soon be sticking out of the rompers. Such the dags.

But you can't blame us for being excited.

If a baby drops out of your tummy when you're shopping...

Will do.

When I was 10 years old our family went to live in England for a year. Most weekends, we would head out for a walk in the countryside somewhere, visit a castle or ruins and have a Sunday meal at the pub. Along the way we would often duck into charity shops or stumble across a car boot sale. It was on one of these trips that I picked up a series of books of children's sayings compiled by Nanette Newman. They are total classics.

I came across them when we were unpacking books for the nursery and had a good old giggle.

Read on for a chuckle.

37 weeks

The past week has been a lovely mix of productive and relaxing times. It's a relief to me that the little one's clothes are now washed, folded and stacked in neat piles in drawers or hung on mini hangers in the cupboard, the nursery is starting to take shape, my hospital bag is packed (albeit with a few items still to add), a few final baby goodies have been ordered and Mum and I have plans to head out tomorrow to tick the last few items off my bebe shopping list.

I've also had some time to catch up with friends, cuddle a new babe (which definitely made me feel a little impatient to meet our little one), enjoy another pre natal massage and hit some garage sales over the weekend - picking up some wooden toys and puzzles, and a lovely old bevelled edged mirror for the nursery.

The little one continues to move and dance about in my belly - and I'm beginning to notice some twitches and pains way down low. I woke to some aches, almost period pain-like, early this morning and lay wondering if they were going to progress into anything more. They didn't...and whilst I feel we are getting close, I'm sure there is still quite some time before we meet our little one. It feels reassuring to know that my body is starting to prepare...

PS. Some sweet, sweet decals from Shanna Murray's charming collection arrived in the post today, and just because this lovely lady posted about them only yesterday (spooky!) I thought I'd include a few pics as they just delightful and capable of bringing a little bit of happiness and a touch of surprise to your walls...

Nursery details

Think I'm developing quite an obsession with sweet wraps, bunny rugs and soft blankets. Oh well, surely you can never have too many?

Some lovely friends have been helping me put together a to-buy list. I felt a little overwhelmed by all the 'essential' items listed in baby books but they swiftly crossed a few things off the list. Now it's looking a little less frightening. We've been so lucky to borrow or inherit a lot of the bigger items though, so really we've done very well so far.

A few handy things I was told about:

...forehead scanner thermometer (and room temperature gauge in one)

...lasinoh lanolin

...hire a capsule for the first 6 months through Kidsafe (these versions have the option of lifting out a carry basket - no need to wake the little one)

...melobaby travel change mat (I love that it has a soft fleecy lining not a plastic sticky mat)

Any other hot tips (or even sweet things to splurge on) are welcome...

Freckles

Last weekend I popped in to one of my favourite shops and left with something a bit fun for the little one's room. I've been eyeing off the freckle rugs for a while, but not willing to part with $300 for something which doesn't fall into the 'essential' category, I'm content to leave it on my wish list for now. Couldn't resist the freckle garland though, and it's joined the stash of cute things that I'm storing in the (recently assembled) cot. We're waiting until we have a few more pieces of furniture before we decorate the room, so I'm not too sure yet where the garland will live.

A good friend at work sent me a link to the beautifully curated Sunday Collector blog on Friday and I noticed that she has just posted a piece about garlands - and featured the freckle garland. I'm sure you've all discovered this blog long ago but it's worth a visit if you haven't. I'm not too sure that I subscribe to her rule of 'one garland in the home at a time'. I think it's quite acceptable to allow one garland per level...so am lucky that I live in a 3 storey home + loft.

Other cheeky purchases for the little one in the last few weeks:

...Serena & Lily Aden + Anais swaddle blankets

...Littlephant children's poster

...Swedish 'Kurbib'